Starting from 1950

Chapter 122 The Counterattack in Hengcheng Begins

Back when the 40th Army was still called the "Third Column," there was a saying that circulated:

The seventh division attacked, the eighth division watched, and the ninth division circled around and attacked.

The 7th, 8th, and 9th Divisions mentioned here correspond to the current 118th, 119th, and 120th Divisions.

This jingle doesn't mean that the 119th and 120th Divisions were inferior to the 118th Division.

Rather, it means that each of the three divisions has its own strengths.

The 118th Division is best at attacking strongholds, infiltrating enemy lines, and fighting tough battles; they are basically assigned the most difficult tasks.

The 119th Division served as a support unit, responsible for consolidation and mobility. When the 118th Division launched its main attack, it was responsible for guarding, intercepting reinforcements, and consolidating positions. Alternatively, it would follow up and expand the gains after the 7th Division opened a breakthrough. Hence, it was said to "watch".

As for the claim that the 120th Division was "circling around," it was because they were skilled at flanking maneuvers, attacks, and pursuits. They often coordinated from the periphery of the main attack direction, responsible for dividing and encircling the enemy, cutting off their retreat routes, and mopping up the remaining enemy forces, just like "circling around."

Today, the 118th Division is still entrusted with important tasks, just as it was during the Third Column period.

Northwest of Gaobao Mountain Forest.

Winter nights come early; as soon as the sky darkens, the wind begins to seep into your bones.

Xiaoyu hovered in the sky, glancing down at a certain spot every now and then.

More than 10,000 soldiers of the 18th Division are hiding below, some wearing white cloths, some using tree branches for camouflage, and some simply hiding directly in the snow.

Inside a bunker covered by a huge white sheet, Luo Pojun, Tang Zhongjing, Commander Ying of the 353rd Regiment, Commander Zhu of the 354th Regiment, and the political commissars of each regiment were huddled together.

The map was laid out on a slightly dry earthen slope, and the lantern was held low, revealing only a small circle of dim yellow light.

The division's orders have been relayed to the regiments: the 352nd Regiment will serve as the spearhead of the entire division, and under the cover of the 353rd and 354th Regiments, will penetrate 25 kilometers to reach Guangtian and Heguli, block the road entrances, cut off the enemy's retreat, and prevent enemy reinforcements.

However, first, the three regiments need to work together to tear a hole in the enemy's defensive line ahead.

"Chief of Staff, give the order!" Luo Pojun looked at Tang Zhongjing in front of him with a serious expression.

Tang Zhongjing squatted down, glanced at his watch, then pointed to the blue markers representing enemy and puppet troops on the map. He then said to the three regimental commanders, "It's 4:30 PM now. If your three regiments work together, do you have the confidence to break through the enemy lines within two hours?"

"Yes!" everyone answered in unison.

"Alright! According to the original plan, the 353rd Regiment will be on the left, the 354th Regiment on the right, and the 352nd Regiment in the center. Now go back and prepare. The general attack will begin in 15 minutes!"

"yes!"

As soon as Su Yang got home, he quickly switched his focus to Xiao Yu.

He saw that the soldiers of the 118th Division below had removed their camouflage, and the division's only three anti-aircraft guns were laid flat. These were captured in the previous battle of Sansuoli, and most of them had been handed over for distribution. The 118th Division was given three of them.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Three muffled cannon shots ripped through the silence of dusk, followed by the sharp whistling of mortar shells cutting through the air!

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Boom! Boom!"

A muffled explosion rang out on the enemy's forward positions at Gaobao, sending mud, snow, and broken timber from the fortifications flying into the air.

Almost the instant the shelling extended, the three main regiments that had been lying in ambush in the snow leaped up like tigers that had been lurking for a long time!

Tens of thousands of people rushed south like a tidal wave, all hoping to get as far south as possible before the enemy could react.

"Da da da da da—!"

""

"Boom!"

The enemy had recovered and began to fire and bombard with light and heavy machine guns and artillery.

Bullets thudded as they struck the frozen ground, sending up shards of stone and ice that pelted the faces and bodies of the soldiers who followed.

"Spread out and take cover!"

In fact, without the commanders shouting, most soldiers had already begun to find cover and fire the instant the enemy bullets came, but more than a dozen were still hit by machine guns and artillery.

Unlike the other two regiments, the 352nd Regiment was required to seize any gaps in the enemy's defenses and make frontal infiltrations.

The entire regiment carried only rifles, light machine guns, grenades, anti-tank grenades, and demolition charges, completely abandoning heavy weapons. Even their dry rations were limited to just one kilogram per person, and they only filled half a canteen with water. They were afraid that carrying too much would affect their infiltration speed.

"Second platoon, follow me! Blow up that firing point!" Li Weixin's roar came between the explosions.

He led a demolition team, using the terrain for cover, and like an agile leopard, circled around to the right front towards a bunker that was frantically spitting fire.

Xiaoyu in the sky shared the battle situation with Su Yang in real time by sharing the field of vision.

The sight below made Su Yang's heart clench suddenly!

On the hillside, where snow-white and scorched black intertwined, countless earth-yellow figures surged like a raging tide, wave after wave crashing against the enemy's defensive line composed of barbed wire, bunkers, and machine gun emplacements.

The flames flickered incessantly, and the smoke from the explosions rose and fell. Every flash of fire meant that a soldier might fall.

Behind the enemy lines, more firing positions are awakening. Tracer rounds, like the forked tongues of venomous snakes, trace deadly trajectories in the dim light, frantically licking at the path of the advance.

The soldiers of the 352nd Regiment fought bravely and relentlessly. Some rushed towards the bunker with explosives, perishing with the enemy amidst the deafening explosions; others were hit by machine gun fire, but before falling, they desperately threw grenades into the enemy ranks; many more braved the hail of bullets, using rifles and submachine guns to suppress enemy fire, creating conditions for their comrades to advance.

The blood quickly stained the pristine white snow, creating horrifying streaks.

Su Yang was moved to tears. What kind of naturally formed elite troops are there? They were created by risking their lives without fear of death.

An hour later.

"boom-!!!"

A deafening roar shook the earth! A bunker that had been relentlessly spewing flames fell silent, leaving behind billowing smoke and flying debris.

"Well done, Er Gou!" Li Weixin roared, "Triple salvo! Charge! Take down the ridge!"

The breakthrough has been made!

The soldiers of the 352nd Regiment surged into the breach in the enemy's defenses like a flood bursting its banks!

"353rd Regiment! Encircle the left flank! 354th Regiment! Consolidate the breakthrough! 352nd Regiment! Start charging in! Keep charging! Don't look back!" Chief of Staff Tang Zhongjing saw the breakthrough open through binoculars from the rear observation post and immediately issued new orders.

"Drip drip drip drip—!"

Immediately afterwards, a resounding bugle call, like the dawn dispelling the darkness, rang out from the ridge in front of the 352nd Regiment's position: "Comrades! Charge!"

"kill--!"

Upon hearing the bugle call, countless soldiers rushed out from their various bunkers without hesitation and began charging toward the gap where the bugle call had sounded.

Many soldiers of the puppet 8th Division, who were still fighting them, were dumbfounded. How long had the battle been going on? Their own defenses had already been breached?

"Ashi..."

'

Some people wanted to say a few words, but then they saw countless soldiers in white camouflage pressing down like an avalanche!

Some people simply dropped their guns and knelt down, ready to surrender.

But the enemy didn't even glance at them, and rushed past them, heading straight south.

In the night sky, Xiaoyu descended to a height of one hundred meters for the first time on the battlefield.

Su Yang saw the 352nd Regiment's overwhelming offensive below, saw Regiment Commander Luo leading the charge, and saw the enemy's formation thrown into chaos.

Xiaoyu let out a high-pitched and hopeful cry, her figure rising higher and spiraling with the advancing torrent of the three-five-two group, like a protective silver lightning bolt.

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